MAMAView: Shop Small Buy Local

MAMAView: Shop Small Buy Local
by Middagh Goodwin 

Shop Small Saturday is November 30th, and I encourage everyone to continue the trend and Buy Local Art and Music for all your Holiday Gifts. Your purchases will help to keep our arts community vibrant and healthy. I want to challenge everyone who reads the ModestoView to go to a new local show this month. That would be over 150,000 additional attendees. 150,000 supporting local musicians, restaurants, bars and venues. At an average of $5 per person that would come to a $750,000(over 9 million a year if done monthly) supporting local musicians and businesses. What an easy and fun way to create and build a vibrant arts community.  

So many of our area musicians have upped their merch game with T-Shirts to Skateboards. Pick up a Tee, CD and Patches, Youth Band and MAMA Winner Blackout have cool shirts for you to show your support. Rockit Music Gear has tons of guitar straps, patch cables and more, locally made right here in Modesto www.rockitmusicgear.com. Metal bands Symbolik have new sweatshirts for the Winter, Cursed released a new CD as well. 

 

Speaking of the MAMAs, you can purchase a T-Shirt and show your support for Modesto Area Music or give a tax-deductible donation in someone’s name. It doesn’t matter what genre you are into there are local bands who have something to sell you to help you show your support.

Check out the Black HeARTs Market the first Friday of each month to find unique crafts and custom art by some of the areas most creative. You will not only put a smile on the face of a loved one, but you will keep Art Alive. 

Additionally, you can support the local arts community by buying gift certificates to your favorite cafes, restaurants and bars that host live music and act as makeshift galleries.  So why not stop off at Ralston’s Goat Deva, Queen Bean, Tresetti’s to name a few and pick up some stocking stuffers.

Don’t forget the Gallo Center, State Theatre and or the Prospect Theatre; all three have events scheduled throughout the year and tickets make for thoughtful gifts too. 

Buying and giving local will make you feel fantastic, and you can be assured that your gifts will be some of the coolest under the tree. While you are out shopping for friends and loved ones, don’t forget to treat yourselves. Pick up some new music and art, get dinner or see a show when you are grabbing those gift certificates.

 

Sign your kids or yourselves up for some music lessons at one of the great local Music Schools, might we suggest VMI or GK Music?

 

Check out all the great local artists, crafters and vendors at ModShop in Downtown Modesto on October 30th.

 If we all spend even a portion of our holiday gift budget with local creators, we collectively will become the largest endowment for the arts.